M.I.D. London Gazette 6 April 1916, for services in the Euphrates operations, 24 June to 26 July 1915.

Frederick St John Barton was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on 6 May 1876, 4th son of Robert Barton, Malvern, Victoria, formerly Deputy Master of Melbourne Branch, Royal Mint. He was educated at Toorak College, near Melbourne, and volunteered and enlisted in the 5th Victoria Contingent during the South African War. He was then transferred as Sergeant to the Rhodesian Artillery, and afterwards gazetted 2nd Lieutenant into the 2nd Hampshire Regiment on 19 May 1900, at the recommendation of the Governor of Victoria. He was promoted to Lieutenant in March 1902 and to Captain in January 1907. He took part in the operations in Rhodesia, May 1900, and in the Transvaal and west of Pretoria in May to June 1901; and in the Orange River Colony, July to October 1901 (Queen’s Medal with 4 clasps; King’s Medal with two clasps). He served as Adjutant to the 1st Battalion from March 1909 to March 1912, and to the 4th Territorial Battalion from November 1912. He went to India with his battalion in October 1914, after the outbreak of the European War, and from there to Mesopotamia in March 1915, and was killed in action at the battle of Nasiriya, 24 July 1915.

Sold with an Army Post Card home to his wife ‘I am quite well’, signed ‘Fred 4/5/15’, two news cuttings and a copied portrait photograph, together with other research.

It appears Stamer Gubbins was born in New Zealand on passage to Australia in 1882. Gubbins family settled in Melbourne where he was educated at Melbourne Grammar School. Joining the 5th Contingent, Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1900 as a lieutenant at the age of 18, he served in South Africa during the Boer War. After serving his full tour with the 5th VMR he went on to serve in the Royal Fusiliers in 1902.

Having then been seconded to the West African Frontier Force in Nigeria 1904-09, and been advanced to Major, Gubbins was embarked for France in June 1915, where he commanded the 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers from August of that year until May 1916.It was during this period that he won his D.S.O. for the Battalion’s attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt (a.k.a. The Chord) on 2 March. On that occasion, the attack was launched at 5.45 p.m. with the detonation of seven mines, the largest of which was intended to wreck the bulk of The Chord. Certainly the earth thrown up by the mines partly covered the enemy’s wire, thereby allowing Gubbins’s men - and the neighbouring 8th Battalion - to gain access to the enemy’s defences, but not without significant loss. As stated in The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War, the 9th Battalion ‘found many Germans in their sector of The Chord who, though dazed, did not surrender and had to be killed. There followed a number of fierce grenade fights, the Germans rushing down from the north end of The Chord and along the trenches leading from the east into it ... but the craters were held against enemy bombing attacks during the night.’

D.S.O. London Gazette 15 April 1916:

‘This officer commanded his Battalion in an attack, the success of which was due to the excellent organisation he had established in his Battalion, and to the fighting spirit he had fostered in it.’

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

“For valuable service rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt”

Gubbins, who was also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 15 June 1916, refers), later served in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, services that resulted in his award of the O.B.E. After a long adventure away from Australia, Gubbins finally returned in 1938 with his wife. He died in 1940.

Mounted as worn, minor enamel damage to wreaths on the first, otherwise good very fine $7950

Edward John Bishop’s Boer war service was with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles as the Farrier Corporal and all three clasps are confirmed on the roll.

Enlisted in WW1 and trained with the 44th and 48th Battalion prior to departing with the 5th Pioneer Battalion

Emb: 23rd December 1916

Taken on strength Pioneer training Bn 18th February 1917 before proceeding to France

WIA: 30th September 1917 (remained on duty) France

Gassed but as it was caused by mishap it is not classed as a wounding (14th May 1918) “Platoon marched into to Corbie 13.5.18 which had been gas-shelled. Billets cleared and gas proofed and men warned against gas. L/Cpl Bishop with others visited areas other than billet area, which has been badly gassed. Evacuated following day sore eyes” No disciplinary action was taken.

2nd WIA: 23rd July 1918 (remained on duty) France

RTA: 10th March 1919 and discharged 5th Military District Western Australia

A great letter in Sergeant Bishop’s records by his wife describes his service “my husband said they were turned out of the hospital before they were well enough to make room for other cases and had to do two days march about 26 miles & had only been out of bed a few days. This sort of treatment to our men, to me, lwei’s what we would only expect from the enemy.

I do not want you to get the impression that my husband is a milk of water man, he has been fighting in France for fifteen (15) months without any leave and although reported twice wounded he remained each time on duty and has only been out of the fighting line when gassed. He is now 45 years of age and fought 16 months in the South African Boer war without a day’s leave”

Many of the 3rd Qld Mounted Infantry were involved with the defence of Elands River and the relief of Mafeking, where Trooper Greenslade is during this period is unknown. The 1901 and 1902 clasps were earned with the Canadian Scouts. Worthy of further research.

Note: Farrier Sergeant Edward Arthur Drew’s medal roll shows only the entitlement of the Transvaal clasp. The Relief of Mafeking clasp is an original and appears to have been fitted a long time ago by a jeweller. As Farrier Sergeant Drew was in country at the time of the relief of Mafeking and as the Imperial Yeomanry was part of the body of troops in the column, it is possible he believed he was entitled to the clasp. The medal comes with a copy of his service record stating that he is a Veterinary Surgeon by trade and also states he enlisted in the New Zealand Mounted Armed Constabulary prior to 1881. As a prominent Veterinary Surgeon in the community and along with his previous service in the Constabulary it would be unlikely that he would have been challenged on his clasp entitlement post war.

It would be interesting to see if with good research it could be established exactly what he was doing during the Relief of Mafeking and if in fact he was deserving of the clasp.

Andrew Frew, a labourer from Mosgiel, Otago, who was born in December 1880, attested for the 9th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Kent in March 1902. A member of ‘A’ Squadron, he served in the Transvaal and was discharged at Wellington in August 1901; he was sent his Medal & 2 clasps in 1904.

In October 1916, Frew attested for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, direct from employment as a farm hand at Temuka. Drafted to the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment and embarked for France in May 1917, he appears to have been admitted to a Field Ambulance on account of suffering from the effects of an enemy gas attack in August of the same year. Nonetheless, he rejoined his unit in the Field a few days later and died of multiple wounds on 13 December 1917; sold with copied research.

Hugh Callaghan, a farm labourer from Ardgowan, North Otago, attested for the 9th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Kent in March 1901. A member of ‘B’ Squadron, he served in the Transvaal and was discharged in October 1902. Callaghan died in December 1962 and his ashes were scattered in Anderson’s Bay Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation - he was sent his Medal & 2 clasps in 1904.

William Thomas Turley, a barber from Greymouth, Westland, attested for the 9th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Kent in March 1902. A member of ‘B’ Squadron, he served in the Transvaal and was discharged at Wellington in August 1902. Turley died in September 1928 and is buried in Wakapuaka Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation - he was sent his Medal & 2 clasps in 1904.

Walter Rogers, a farm hand from Sumner, Christchurch, attested for the 9th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Kent in March 1902. A member of ‘C’ Squadron, he served in the Transvaal and was discharged in August 1902. Rogers died in May 1947 and is buried in Waikumete Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation.

James Stewart Jordan, a telegraphist from Stratford, Taranaki, attested for the 9th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Devon in March 1902. A member of ‘G’ Squadron, he served in the Transvaal and was discharged at Wellington in August 1902; sold with copied research and roll confirmation - he was sent his Medal & 2 clasps in 1904.

Walter Henry Holloway, a railway porter from Hamilton, attested for the 10th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Drayton Castle in April 1902. In common with his brother, George, he was a member of ‘B’ Squadron, 1st Regiment, and saw brief service prior to the end of hostilities. Holloway died in Auckland in June 1954 and is buried in Purewa Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation.

Peter McGregor Downes, a labourer from Beaconsfield, Otago, attested for the 10th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Drayton Grange in April 1902. A member of ‘C’ Squadron, 1st Regiment, he saw brief service prior to the end of hostilities. Downes died at Temuka in August 1951, where he is buried in the local cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation - he was sent his Medal in 1904 and his single dated clasp in the following year.

William James Wilson, a bushman from Picton, attested for the 10th N.Z. Contingent and is believed to have been embarked in the S.S. Drayton Grange in April 1902. A member of ‘D’ Squadron, 1st Regiment, he saw brief service prior to the end of hostilities; sold with copied research and roll confirmation.

William Hussey, a farmer from Upper Riccarton, Christchurch, attested for the 10th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Norfolk in April 1902. A member of the 2nd Regiment’s staff, he saw brief service as an Assistant Regimental Quarter-Master Sergeant prior to the end of hostilities; he was sent his Medal & single dated clasp in 1904-05.

In January 1915, Hussey attested for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, aged 47 years, but was discharged one month later. He died at Christchurch in February 1935 and is buried in Sydenham Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation.

James William Quinn, a printer from Greymouth, Westland, New Zealand, attested for the 5th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked - as a reserve - in the S.S. Waimate in March 1900. He served in Rhodesia, and in other operations, and was invalided home at the year’s end, and received his Queen’s South Africa Medal at Wellington during the royal visit in June 1901. Quinn died in October 1937 and is buried at Anderson’s Bay cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation.

Michael Bertie Mason, a storeman from Ashburton, attested for the 10th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Norfolk in April 1902. A member of ‘E’ Squadron, 2nd Regiment, he saw brief service prior to the end of hostilities; sold with brief research and roll confirmation.

Previous service recorded on attestation papers as 6 years Cameronians & 6 years Medical Corps.

WW1 Australian Service as follows;

Emb. 2nd March 1915

Detached to duty with transport section 25th April 1915

Arrived at Alexandria ex Gallipoli Peninsula 19th May 1915

Re-joined unit 4th June 1915

Private Dellar appears to have lasted the whole of the Gallipoli campaign with the 9th Battalion only to take his own life on board the HMAT Grampian (after the evacuation, leaving Lemnos area for Alexandria).

The board of enquiry (extract supplied under photo of medals) shows that whilst off duty, Private Dellar shot himself in the head (with his own rifle) whilst everyone was asleep in his cabin. The board also went on to class his death as being caused by “Misadventure” no doubt to save any further heartache by his family. A very tragic ending to a veteran of two wars.

The service number and Commonwealth Horse stamping (both impressed) is very clear. As there is only one soldier in the Commonwealth Horse with that number, it can only be Pte Walter Arnott Brooke from Tasmania.

On close examination you can see the surname Brooke under magnifying glass. A good chance to buy a rare Tasmanian QSA at a fraction of the cost.

Click to expand

The following 19 New Zealand QSA’s are ex the lifetime collection of Barry Carr formed in the 20th Century and represent a selection which is becoming almost impossible to replicate in these modern times.

Herbert Kerr, a labourer from Manakau, attested for the 4th N.Z. Contingent for service in South Africa and was embarked in the S.S. Gymeric in March 1900. A member of No. 7 Company, he served in Rhodesia, in addition to other operations, and was injured as a consequence of a fall from his horse at Zeerust on 24 October 1900. Having then been embarked for home in the S.S. Harlech Castle in the following year, he returned to South Africa, where he was resident in Pretoria in late 1906; sold with copied research and roll confirmation.

Frederick Cutten Edwards, a shepherd from Wellington, New Zealand, attested for the 5th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Waimate in March 1900. A member of No. 13 Company, he served in Rhodesia, in addition to other operations, and was discharged in October 1902. He died in Wellington in October 1933 and is buried in Bolten Street Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation - he was sent his ‘South Africa 1901’ clasp in 1908.

Clement Lawrence Devereux, a clerk from Christchurch, attested as a relief for the 6th and 7th N.Z. Contingents and was finally embarked in the S.S. Cornwall in February 1902. Having seen brief service as a Private in the 9th Contingent in Cape Colony and Orange Free State, he was discharged in August 1902. He died in August 1917 and is buried in Linwood Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation.

Arthur Mold, a farmer from Te Mata, Raglan, attested for the 7th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Gulf of Taranto in April 1901. A member of No. 21 Company, he served variously in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and the Transvaal and was discharged in September 1902. He died in June 1961 and is buried at All Saints, Howick; sold with copied research and roll confirmation - he was sent his dated clasps in 1906.

Alexander Mitchell, a ploughman from Pleasant Point, Timaru, attested for the 7th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Gulf of Taranto in April 1901. A member of No. 24 Company, he served variously in Orange Free State and the Transvaal and fell ‘dangerously ill’ with enteric fever at Vreiheid in October 1901. Happily after being treated at Mooi River Hospital for two months, he recovered, and he was discharged in September 1902. Mitchell died in November 1955 and is buried in Eastern Invercargill Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation - his dated clasps were sent to him in 1907.

Lower lugs of ‘South Africa 1901’ clasp clipped and both dated clasps loose on riband, good very fine SOLD

William John Barker, who was born in Wanganui in May 1871, attested for the 8th Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Surrey in February 1902. He subsequently served variously in Cape Colony and the Transvaal, and sustained a serious rupture after falling from his horse at Vaal Bank in May 1902. As a consequence he was recommended for a small pension for life - a recommendation turned down by the Pensions Board, Wellington, even though Barker was still in need of treatment when finally invalided in February 1903.

He subsequently found work as a horse breaker, from which employment he enlisted in January 1915. Appointed a Trooper in the Mounted Infantry, he served in the Samoan Relief Force in March-June 1915 but was discharged in the latter month. As a consequence, his sole medal entitlement was the British War Medal 1914-20; sold with copied research and roll confirmation - he was sent his ‘Cape Colony’ clasp in 1907.

Frederick Charles Thiele, a letter carrier for the Chief Post Office in Christchurch, attested for the 8th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Cornwall in February 1902. A member of ‘F’ Squadron, he served variously in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and the Transvaal. Thiele died in May 1954 and is buried in Linwood Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation - he was sent his Medal & clasp in 1904.

Note: Medal roll states service with the Left Wing, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles who was under the command of Major McKnight.

Major William McKnight and his men were involved in what some refer to as the original betrayal of the British command against Australian soldiers with troopers James Steele, Arthur Richards and Herbert Parry being sentenced to death. This led to Major McKnight calling General Beatson to account for his 'gross insults'. A belated apology by the General was curtly refused by McKnight. It must be remembered that just prior to this the Regimental Surgeon Herbert Palmer and 18 NCOs or men were killed at Wilmansrust, with a further five officers and 36 NCOs or men also being wounded. This incident is an extremely important event involving Lord Kitchener, The prime minister and even the King and had a huge part in Australia eventually taking control of its own troops.

In 1910 Trooper Hewitt appears to have moved to western Australia with the Daily News (Western Australian Newspaper) mentioning him as a new member of the South African Soldiers Association of WA (Wednesday 7th September 1910).

Frederick Pratten Stephenson, a chemist from Dunedin, attested for the 9th N.Z. Contingent and was embarked in the S.S. Kent in March 1902. A member of the Battalion Staff, South Island Regiment, he served in the Transvaal as a Corporal Dispenser. Stephenson died in October 1942 and is buried in Northern Dunedin Cemetery; sold with copied research and roll confirmation - he was sent his Medal & 2 clasps in 1904.

NOTE: 1446 (or 1445 depending interpretation) G. McMahon also appears on the 6th medal roll as 1445 W. G. McMahon and is entitled to a 1901 clasp (copy of record provided). Further research is required.

Note: Herbert James Hulme was born in Melbourne, Victoria on 28 February 1879. A Butcher by occupation, living at 63 Lincoln Street, Richmond, he enlisted and served in 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles from January 1901. In the Great War he enlisted into the 10th Light Horse and was subsequently discharged and joined the 11th Battalion AIF